Homeschooling: the Good, the Bad, and the Funny |
Monday, October 07, 2002
~~~Animal School~~~ Once upon a time the animals had a school. The curriculum consisted of running, climbing, flying and swimming, and all the animals took part in all the subjects. The Duck was good in swimming, better in fact, than his instructor, and he made passing grades in flying, but he was practically hopeless in running. Because he was low in this subject, he was made to stay after school and drop his swimming class in order to practice running. He kept this up until he was only average in swimming. But average is acceptable, so nobody worried about that except the Duck. The Eagle was considered a problem pupil and was disciplined severely. He beat all the others to the top of the tree in climbing class, but he used his own way of getting there. The Rabbit started out at the top o f the class in running, but he had a nervous breakdown and had to drop out of school on account of so much makeup work in swimming. The Squirrel led the climbing class, but his flying teacher made him start his flying lessons from the ground instead of the top of the tree down, and he developed charley horses from overexertion at the takeoff and began getting C's in climbing and D's in running. The practical Prairie Dogs apprenticed their offspring to a Badger when the school authorities refused to add digging to the curriculum. At the end of the year, the abnormal Eel that could swim well, run, climb, and fly a little was made valedictorian. Author unknown (but probably a homeschooler) ; )
~~~Animal School~~~ Once upon a time the animals had a school. The curriculum consisted of running, climbing, flying and swimming, and all the animals took part in all the subjects. The Duck was good in swimming, better in fact, than his instructor, and he made passing grades in flying, but he was practically hopeless in running. Because he was low in this subject, he was made to stay after school and drop his swimming class in order to practice running. He kept this up until he was only average in swimming. But average is acceptable, so nobody worried about that except the Duck. The Eagle was considered a problem pupil and was disciplined severely. He beat all the others to the top of the tree in climbing class, but he used his own way of getting there. The Rabbit started out at the top o f the class in running, but he had a nervous breakdown and had to drop out of school on account of so much makeup work in swimming. The Squirrel led the climbing class, but his flying teacher made him start his flying lessons from the ground instead of the top of the tree down, and he developed charley horses from overexertion at the takeoff and began getting C's in climbing and D's in running. The practical Prairie Dogs apprenticed their offspring to a Badger when the school authorities refused to add digging to the curriculum. At the end of the year, the abnormal Eel that could swim well, run, climb, and fly a little was made valedictorian. Author unknown (but probably a homeschooler) ; ) Friday, October 04, 2002
This is an older article, based on the debate that the California Department of Education started by sending out a memo to all homeschoolers. San Diego really took it far and the issue has been circulated on just about every homeschool related list out there. The following excerpt has points that concern me and should concern every parent, no matter if your child is homeschooled, in public school or in private school. As parents, we should have the ultimate responsibility of what goes into our kids heads and how their character is shaped. Public education versus homeschoolers One major thing obviously driving the educrats is money. Homeschool advocates say the state's education department has a $23 billion deficit. According to CPI News, these school districts receive funds based on the number of students attending public school -- roughly $4,500 per student a year. It's pretty simple math, even for the New-New Math public educrats: the more homeschoolers, the less money for them. But I'm convinced this is about more than money. We should also recognize that the struggle between homeschoolers and their statist opponents is grounded as much on philosophical differences as the issue of educational quality. The establishment wants to retain control over what goes into children's heads. In far too many cases it teaches whole language reading instead of phonics, multiculturalism -- which often means the evils of Western Civilization, political correctness, "diversity" and "tolerance," weird math and a distorted, anti-American view of American history. Its byword should be "getting away from the basics." The enlightened educators of California, for example, have no problem offering courses in the wonders of Islam, while strenuously blocking any utterance about Christianity. But this struggle against homeschooling isn't unique to California; it is happening to greater or lesser degrees throughout the United States and will increase in direct proportion to the inevitable success of homeschooling. And while it may not seem directly to affect those who don't have school-age children or grandchildren, it should concern every American. I'm not just talking about the broad-based detriment to our society that will result from inferior education. It's more than that. Wednesday, October 02, 2002
This question and answer was posted on orisg (with a reference to family.org). I found the whole thing online. Family.org - Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide: Question 196 Question: Don't you think home schooling might negatively impact the socialization process? I don't want my children growing up to be misfits. Dr. Dobson Responds: This is the question home-schooling parents hear most often from curious (or critical) friends, relatives, and neighbors. "Socialization" is a vague, dark cloud hanging over their heads. What if teaching at home somehow isolates the kids and turns them into oddballs? For you and all those parents who see this issue as the great danger of home education, I would respectfully disagree—for these reasons. (cont'd on the site) Tuesday, September 24, 2002
I wish I could have been as carefree as this when homeschooling .... alas, we both need structure. My dishes went unwashed today, I didn't make the bed. I took their hands and followed Where their footsteps led. Oh, yes, we went adventuring, My young, sweet child and I... Exploring all the great outdoors Beneath the summer sky. We waded in a crystal stream, We wandered through a wood... My kitchen wasn't swept today, But life was rich and good. We found a cool, sun-dappled glade, And now my small child knows How mother bunny hides her nest, Where Jack-in-the-pulpit grows. We watched a robin feed her young, We climbed a sunlit hill... Saw "cloud-sheep" scamper through the sky, And plucked a daffodil. That my house was neglected, That I didn't sweep the stair, In twenty years no one on earth Will know or even care. But that I've helped my young child To noble adulthood grow In twenty years the whole wide world May look and see and know. ~Author Unknown~ Saturday, September 14, 2002
Why Public Schooling Is Better Than Homeschooling (author unknown) 10. Most parents were educated in the underfunded public school system,and so are not smart enough to homeschool their own children. 9. Children who receive one-on-one homeschooling will learn more than others, giving them an unfair advantage in the marketplace. This is undemocratic. 8. How can children learn to defend themselves unless they have to fight off bullies on a daily basis? 7. Ridicule from other children is important to the socialization process. 6. Children in public schools can get more practice "Just Saying No" to drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. 5. Fluorescent lighting may have significant health benefits. 4. Publicly asking permission to go to the bathroom teaches young people their place in society. 3. The fashion industry depends upon the peer pressure that only public schools can generate. 2. Public schools foster cultural literacy, passing on important traditions like the singing of "Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg..." 1. Homeschooled children may not learn important office career skills, like how to sit still for six hours straight. Friday, September 13, 2002
I think I have the opposite problem (if you can call it that) that a lot of homeschooling families encounter with their extended families. Just talked to my dad this morning. Had to tell him that I was coming home from dropping his grandson off at school. "What, you're not homeschooling? Well, let me ask you this. Is it a Christian school?" "No, not if you want to see your grandson alive again. We can't afford it." "Tut tut." "Well ... the more I see that he's not learning anything the more I think I might pull him out." My father knows his grandson and can commiserate with me, but he would rather that I homeschool than have him in public school. I wonder if my parents had the same misgivings about public school that I do? I know that it is very hard to get kids with really good character traits these days. Part of it is going from daycare to school to daycare because parents are busting their butts making a living instead of having a life. But that's another rant. 
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